Shuttle for badminton and the like



Aug- 29, 1933- A. T. sAUNDERs 1,924,259

SHUTTLE FOR BADMINTON AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 26, 1951 Inl/sentar:

, Addzon 71' Saunders, @MQWMMM WSS.

Patented Aug. 29, 1933 UNITED STATES 1,924,259 SHUTTLE FOR BADMINTON AND THE LIKE Addison T. Saunders, Akron, A. G. Spaulding & Bros.,

Ohio, assignor to New York, N. Y., a

Corporation of New Jersey Application January 2s, 1931. serial No. 511,423 22 Claims.4 (Cl. 273-106) My present invention relates to improvements in a shuttle for the games of` badminton, battledore and shuttlecock or the like, and also relates to a method of producing the improved 5 shuttle.

An object of the invention is to provide a seamless, featherless, flight controlling vane for the shuttle, which vane is circumferentially` uniform and symmetrical, and to provide an effective method for producing the same.

Another object is the provision of a shuttle having a relatively inexpensive, strong, durable envelope of novel character for the head thereof to substitute the usual white kid leather covering or envelope. y

A further object is to provide a vane for the shuttle which is strong and durable while possessing graduated stiffness and terminal yieldability or resilience as in the usual feathered vane.

Another object is the provision of a shuttle for the games of badminton, battledore and shuttlecock, which while possessing all the qualities of the known shuttles which ordinarily are provided with an assembly of feathers asa flight controlling vane, will be featherless, but will have combined with the head portion a iight controlling vane, of a more simple and less costly form, both as regards its manufacture and as regards its assembly with said head, said vane being clearly visible in flight and as pleasing to the eye as the feathered form.

Thev invention further aims to provide as a means to take the place of the feathers a form of flight controlling vane which will simulate the control exerted by feathers, as ordinarily Vemployed, at all stages of the game. That is, not only when the shuttle is in full flight will this simulation in action take place, but throughout the 'whole lperiod of play, including the moment at which the shuttle is struck and started on its flight, during the main part of its flight, and its action of turning downwardly quickly, head foremost, when the momentum is spent.

The invention consists in the features of construction and method of production of the article as hereinafter described and pointed out particularly in the claims.l In the drawing showing an embodiment of my invention and illustrating my method of making the shuttle,

Figure 1 is a view showing the formation of the vane portion of the shuttle.

Fig.l 2 shows the vane after removal from the lproviding large spaces between cone-shaped form and prior to its attachment to the head shown in cross-section in Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 shows the finished shuttle.

Fig. 5 is a view of another form of vane, on reduced scale. Fig. 6 is a view of still another form of vane. Fig. 7 is an end view of the vane of Fig. 5. Fig. 8 is an end view of the vane of Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 shows a form of covering for the head reinforced with fabric material. The drawing is diagrammatic and illustrates the features of the present invention independently of exact sizes or proportions, it being understood that the improvements are to be applied in making shuttles of regulation sizes and proportions. The sizes and proportions shown'in the drawing are approximations only.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 4 shows a completed shuttlecock embodying and made according to my invention, in which I provide a coneshaped vane member 1 of seamless tubular fabric the smaller end of which is secured to the base or butt end 5b.of the head 5 which is preferably of cork as in the ordinary shuttle, or cork agglomerate, and which I provide with a colloidal 0 or colloidal composition envelope or covering 5a to substitute the usual leather covering. The white kid leather usually employed is expensive and a material saving is had by employing my substitute envelope. 'I'his colloidal envelope 85 comprises colloidal materials such, as rubber, plasticized glue, or plasticized pyroxylin. In employing any of these I incorporate a white pigment such as the sulphide or oxide of zinc or oxide of titanium. By right pigmentation and thickness of the envelope IY 'obtain such weight asmay be desired to secure the required weight of the shuttle head. 1

A feature of my improved featherless coneshaped vane member, is that it is of seamless tubular fabric which, in the ultimate cone-shape which'I impart to it, is of itself heavier and more dense per unit of surface area near the smaller end o f the cone, where it joins the base or butt of the head 5, than toward the larger end of the cone.

This I accomplish in a tubular textile fabric by the strands toward the larger end of the cone while providing" smaller' spaces between the strands near the 105 smaller end of the cone, according to my method i hereinafter described.

This produces a gradual change in weight per unit of surface area due to change in density of texture of thev fabric itself from the large end The cone-shaped tubular fabric is held in such condition by a stiffening material or coating applied to the` entire cone of fabric. In the textile fabric, the fibres, threads, or strands are fixed or rigidied in the relatively open mesh condition toward the large end of the cone and in the relatively close mesh condition near the smaller end of the cone.

The greater heaviness or density when the fabric cone is stiffened from end to end by the coating, results of itself in gradual increase in strength or stiffness of the cone toward the small end independent of variations in stiffness imparted by application of coating in greater quantity at one point than at another. This is due to the increasingly greater number of stiffened or rigidied strands per unit of area toward the smaller end. l

The stiffening material which is applied to the entire surface of the cone and which serves to stiffen, rigidify, or x the strands or' fibres of the seamlesstubular textile fabric in the cone shaped conditions described, is preferably/used in greater amount near the smaller end of the cone than toward the larger end thereof, which augments the initial variation in strength, stiffness, and weight, resulting from simply applying stiifening coating to the entire cone as it gradually varies from open mesh to close mesh toward the small end.

In carrying out my invention, I proceed substantially as follows. Over a cone-like form of duralumin-this metal being preferably chosen for its low gravity and consequent convenience in handling, and for its property of resisting adhesion of glue and the like, I draw a seamless tube preferably knitted from a fine' thread, preferably silk. By experimentation I have secured a knitted tube of a size and degree of stretch and adaptation that, while it can be stretched Vover the larger end of a form representing the dimensions of the larger end of the vane (about it will' contract and fit smoothly the smaller end of this tapered form (about 78"), when stretched longitudinally.

Fig. 1 illustrates such a cone as described, one end of a section of the seamless tubing, 1, being rmly held about the shank of the cone by a rubber band, 2, and the opposite endl of the section being drawn taut overthe smaller end of the cone and held there by the cord tied about it at 3.

The progressive expandingof the tube 'toward 'the larger end of the cone and its compacting toward the smaller endl makes the larger end much` lighter per unit of area than the other part, and this thinning from stretch aids in securing equilibriumby the location of center of gravity at the base 5b ofthe cork head, the entire cone of fabric being stifened, fixed, or

. rigidified by application of coating thereto. The

more compact condition of the' stiffened fabric at the small end (representing the quill portion of the feathered vane), is further strengthened by heavier treatment with the stiffening material, which is important since it must bear the greater part of the shock of impacts upon the nose 5c of the cork head.'

A section of this tubing having beendrawn over the form as shown and described, the stiffenlng material, preferably plasticized glue or pyroxylin, with -'.-which is incorporated sulphide or oxide of zinc or oxide of titanium, or the like,

for whiteness, is applied by dipping, or brushing on. And the stiffening is increased progressively from the larger end of the vane to the smaller by either oftwo methods of applying.

According to one method I first dip the vane for its entire length in a thin solution of the stiifening material, then for less than its entire length, small end first, and in a vertical position in a preferably thicker solution `keeping the largerv end above the surface ofthe second solution, immersing a still less part of the .entire length in a still thicker solution, performing this dippingin as manysteps. as may be required for graduation Without abruptness. Ind four steps produce an apparent continuous increase in thickness of coating with all desired lightness at the large end of the vane and of strength at the small end, these 'dips being performed without permitting drying between them. "I-do not limit myself toany particular number of dipping steps.

When a quick-drying solution, vsuch as pyroxylin in a suitable solvent such as butyl-acetate is used, the above effect of' graduation of thickness of coating can be had by a gradual and properly timed withdrawing of the vane, with one single solution. According to this method the thickness of the coating is. directly affected by the rate of withdrawal of the part leaving the surface of the solution at any time. This is due to the alteration in the rate 'y of evapo-l ration of the solvent. v

When a glue compound is used for stiffening n the vane I may treat the same, after coating,

with formaldehyde or lits equivalent, to render y it moisture-proof.

While the stiifening materials employed strip freely from the duralumin form, the white pigments employed therewith have a tendency to cause adhesion. I, therefore,l preferably lubricate the cone before stretching on the knitted material. For a glue compound a lm of paraffin, applied in solution or rubbed on, is used, and when a pyroxylin compound is useda film of soap is applied. 120

When the stiffening coats aredry" the cone of silk is readily removable from the form. Thisis best done by cutting around the sharp angles of both ends with av sharp trimming knife, the form of the duralumin cone enabling this, and 12,5

-its -length being that requiredl for the vane. `When this is neatly done the vane is readyfor mounting on the head. It is easily drawn from the form and is shown in Fig. 2.

. The withdrawing of the pyroxynn-stnrenea 139 vane is facilitated by dipping in hot water or by steaming, which causes it to slip from the soap or other lubricant lm.

The smaller end of the vane is formed of a size calculated toenable it to be fitted around the shank 5b of the cork head shown in Fig. 3. In this figure 5 represents the rounded portion of the head beyond the shank 5b, the head 5 being covered with the envelope/5a. which I substitute for thekid, as describedy above'. The cork portion may be the natural cork or ground cork mixed with a suitable'binding material. This envelopeis of colloidal or colloidal ycomposition material, whichv I plasticize to any desired degree with known softeners s uch` as glycerine or .4 sulphonated castor oil for the glue mixture, and sulphonated castor oil or dibutylphthalate or the like for a pyroxylin mixture. When rubber is used for the envelope no plasticizing is required. I prefer to form envelope by dipping the cork head in a solution, of the material chosen, pigmented as hereinbefore described. Those skilled in the artswill understand that after dipping, inverting of the head at a certain optimum time while drying will insure an even forming of the envelope. An alternative method is to mould the envelope from these materials and cement it on to the cork head with cement of the same base as the colloid.

I may reinforce the colloidal envelope by admixture of fibre, as of silk, or by a fabric such as the knitted material of the vane. This material has the characteristic of stockinet, being susceptible to drawing over the head or a like form smoothly and without fold or Wrinkle. An envelope formed of this material and impregnated with a colloidal material such as described for the envelope, is strengthened against mutilation in play. Such an envelope is shown applied to the cork head in Fig. 9.

My invention contemplates in addition to the plain colloidal envelope a colloidal composition envelope for the cork head, comprising a suitable base or filler impregnated or bound together with colloids, such as above set forth, to substitute the usual kid leather envelope. 'I'he base material may as above stated, include fibrous material, such as silk, or a fabric material.

Or it may comprise paper or paper pulp, felted hair or other fibrous material. This material may comprise any of the materials named, alone or in combination, in a comminuted state or otherwise, and to this material is added the binder comprising the colloids mentioned, such as plasticized glue, pyroxylin, rubber, or the like, to form a yielding covering for the cork head having the necessary degree of strength, Wear, weight, and general behavior, as a practical substitute for the ordinary and expensive kid leather envelope.

In attaching the vane to the head, the lower portion of the former, a narrow rim, is first softened, with Water in the case of glue, and if of pyroxylin by the vehicle used in reducing it to solution, or a similar solvent. In this softened state the rim of the vane is easily adjusted around the shank 5b of the head and glued or cemented thereto. The shuttle is finished by trimming with the usual band of ribbon, shown at 4, Fig. 4.

. While the plain non-iluted vane is desirable, I nd that a fluting of the larger end of the vane has certain advantages with respect to increased air resistance and tendency to maintain symmetry. Two somewhat similar forms of this iluting are shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8. Figs. 5 and 6 show these in perspective while Figs. 7 and 8 represent plan views of the upper edge of vanes fluted in these forms. Both of these types of fluting consist of a series of V-shaped prominences, as seen from Without, or V-shaped grooves when viewed from within. The flutings in each case should preferablyVbe sixteenI in number, corresponding with the usual sixteen feathers in the ordinary shuttle. These Vs are of equal size and are disposed contiguously about the-periphery of the large end of the vane in saw-tooth or zig-zag fashion. These flutings may, if desired, extend well down the body of the vane, but in the drawing I prefer to show them as I now prefer to use them, tapering down to nothing at a short rdistance from the large end of the conical vane, growing narrower and shallower in straight lines a and b until they merge into the level smooth surface of the vane as indicated at the points c which are annularly in line. The ridges of the Vs are shown at d. The corresponding parts of vane 1' in Figs. 6 and 8 are a', b', c', and d.

In the form of van'e 1a in which the Vs have equal sides e and f, Figs. 5 and 7, the Vs or flutes all point toward the apex of the cone. In the forni of vane 1 of Figs. 6 and 8, while the flutes strictly do not point toward the apex, due to the inequality of sides a and b', the ridge lines d lie in a plane which intersects the imaginary apex of the cone. This is also true of the ridge line d of the form of vane 1a.

The purpose of the form of luting in which the two sides of the V are unequal is to cause a rotary, spinning, motion of the shuttle in flight. This is not necessary for straight flight but is designed to meet the demands of some players.

In the ordinary feathered shuttle this spin is caused bythe overlapping of the vanes of the feathers all in one direction.` This is necessary in the feathered type to give a symmetrical appearance. The spinning is merely incidental.

The fluting described above isvdone after the stiifened vaneis removed from the form indicated in Fig. 1 and before attaching to the head.` A female mold grooved to the form desired is employed. This is heated and the vane placed in it. A male mold or plunger bearing Vs corresponding to those in the female mold is inserted in register. The heat softens the stiffening material and the operation presses and stretches the vane outward into the groovesironing it into this uted form.

I do not desire to limit the invention to any particular sizes or dimensions of the various parts l of the shuttlecock as these may be changed without departing from myy invention as set forth in the accompanying claims. Nor is it desired to restrict the invention to other features such as materials used, since it will be apparentthat these may be variedy within the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A shuttle for the game of badminton or the like comprising a head, and a vane consisting of a cone-shaped member of seamless tubular stiffened textile fabric secured to said head.

2. A shuttle for the game of badminton or the likey comprising a head, and a vane consisting of a kcone-shaped member of seamless tubular stiffened knitted fabric secured to said head.

3. A shuttle for the game A'of badminton and the like comprising a head and a vane or tail member attached thereto consisting of a coneshaped member of tubular seamless stiilened textile fabric having greater density of texture near the. smaller end of the seamless tubular fabric cone than toward the larger end thereof to aid in locating the center of gravity of the shuttle 'at the desired point at .the base of the head. -f

4. A) shuttle according to claim 3 `in which said seamless cone of fabric has Iconstituent strands in closer relation providing smaller interstices near-the smaller end of the cone than toward the larger end thereof.

5. A shuttle for the game of badminton and the like comprising a head and a; vane or tail member attached thereto consisting of a coneshaped member of tubular seamless fabric having greater density of texture with smaller interstices near the smaller end of the seamless tubular fabric cone than toward the larger end thereof, the wall of said cone being also provided with a stiffening material in greater quantity near the smaller end of the cone than toward the larger end thereof to aid in locating the center of gravity of the shuttle at the desired point at the base'of the head.

6. A shuttle for the game of badminton and the like comprising a head and a featherless, seamless vane or tail member attached thereto of cone-like form and of tubular fabric having interstices smaller near the base of the head than toward `the larger end of the seamless fabric cone to make the smaller end of the vane heavier than the larger end and thus to aid in locating the center of gravity at the desired point at the base of the head, said cone being provided with a stiffening material, said stiffening material xing said fabric in cone-like form with the interstices varying in size as aforesaid.

7. A shuttle for the game of badminton and the like having a head provided witha covering of colloidal material as a substitute for thel usual leather covering.

8. A shuttle for the game of badminton or the like comprising a vane consisting of seamless tubular textile fabric stretched to cone shape and stiffened and fixed in coneshape by a colloidal coating, and a head secured to said'vane and provided with an outer envelope of colloidal coating material.

9. A shuttle according to claim 8 in which said colloidal coating material comprises rubber, plasticized glue, plasticized pyroxylin, or the like colloidal material, and includes a suitable white pigment such as sulphide or oxide of zinc or oxide titanium.

l0. A shuttle for the game of badminton and the like having a head provided with a composition envelope as a substitute for the usual leather covering, said composition envelope including colloidal material. y

11. A shuttle according to claim 10 in which s ai 1l composition envelope includes fibrous materia 12. A shuttle according to claim 10, in which said envelope comprises a fabric stockinet pulled overjthe head and impregnated and covered with said colloidal material.

13. The-hereindescribed method of making a shuttle for the game of badminton and theA like, -consisting in applying' over a conical form, a tube of fabric, stretching it both longitudinally and circumferentially over the larger portion of the conical form, and fitting it smoothly to a smaller portion of the conical form, applying a stiifening material to the cone of fabric upon the conical form, removing the apex end of thefabric cone, removing the stiifened-fabric cone Qfrom the form, and securing the open small end of the cone to a head to form the shuttle.

14. The method of claim 13, including applying the stiffening material to the cone of fabric upon the conical form in greater quantity near the smaller end of the cone of fabric than toward the larger end thereof.

15. The hereindescribed method of making a shuttle for the game of badminton and the like, consisting in applying a tube of fabric to a conical form to fit a smaller portion of the conical form and stretching over the larger portion of the conical form, dipping the cone of fabric on p the conical form into a stiening solution for the full length of the cone of fabric to rigidify said fabricA in conical shape, withdrawing it from said liquid, dipping the cone of fabric on the conical form smaller end first into a preferably thicker stiifening solution for less than the full-length of the cone of fabric before the pre- .vious coating is dry to produce a greater thick ness of stiffening coating near the smaller end of the cone of fabric than toward the larger end thereof, removing the apex end of the fabric cone removing the stiffened fabric cone from the form,' and securing the open small end of the same to a head to form the shuttle.

16. The hereindescribed method of making a shuttle for the game of badminton and the like, consisting in forming a conical tube of fabric, dipping the cone of fabric, smaller end first, into a coating or stiffening solution,'withdrawing it from said liquid, andbefore the applied coating is dry dipping the cone of fabric, smaller end first, into a preferably thicker solution of coating or stiffening material for less than the previously dipped length of the'cone of fabric, to produce a greater thickness of stiffening coating near the smaller en'd of `the cone of fabric than toward the larger end thereof.

17. The method of Iclaim 13 in which the rim of the small end of the stiffened vane is "softened by a suitable solvent, and fitted to thefhead, and glued or cemented thereto.

18. A shuttle for the game of badminton or sov the'like comprising a cylindrical head provided' at its rear side with a reduced shank forming a shoulder, anda vane of hollow concalf'ormation having its smaller end open, said end of the vanebeing smaller diametrically than the larger diameter of 'the head, said endi of' the vane surrounding the shank and contacting with the rear side of the head at the shoulder, and said end of the vane'being secured, to said shank.

19. A shuttle for the game of lbadmintorfo'r the like comprising ahead, a -vanepf hollow conical formation secured at its smaller end-to the head, the wall ofthe vane toward the larger end thereof being fluted-in zig-zag formation to provide V-shaped outward prominences or ridges extending longitudinally ofthe larger end of the vane and becoming narrower and smaller until they merge into -the smooth wall of the vane at a point within said larger end, said V- shaped flutings tending to maintain symmetry and to increase air resistance.

20. A shuttle according to claim -19'inwhich said V-shaped flutings' have unequal sides'to cause a rotary spinning motion of the shuttle when in flight.

21. The hereindescribed method of making a shuttle for the game of badminton and the like, consisting in applying over a conical form a tube of fabric, stretching it over the larger portion of the conical form, and fitting it smoothly to a smaller portion of the conical form,closing an end of the tube beyond the smaller end of the conical form, drawing the other end of the tube inwardly over the larger end of the conical form, applying a stiifening to the cone of fabric upon the conical form, severing the ends -of the cone of fabric upon the conical form in alignment with the ends of the form, removing the stiflened fabric cone from the form, and securing the smaller end of the same to a head to form the shuttle. 22. A shuttle according to claim 5 in which said stiffening material comprises colloidal coating material. A

ADDISON T. SAUNDERS.

` CERTIFICATE OE CORRECTION.

Parent No. 1,924,259. 4 v August 29, 1933.

' ADDISON lT. sAUNDERs.

It is hereby certified that .the name of the assignee in theabove numbered patent was erroneously described and specified as A. G. SPAULDING & BROS." whereas said name should have been described and specified as "A. G. SPALD- ING & BROS." as shown by the records of assignments in this office; and lthat the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

SignedA and sealed this 26th day. of September,I A. D. 1933.

F. M. Hopkins (Seal) I Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

